The 2024-25 Steelers Probably Won’t Make The Super Bowl Thread

The Game Room
1

So last year’s thread sank out of a combination of disinterest from the rest of you, which I can hardly blame you for as this is more or less self-aggrandizing, and a lack of participation from myself, which is unusual but there was a reason.

I bought my own business. My sister and I bought a restaurant, and even though I all but ran one for the better part of a decade and I’ve been in the business forever, I’m working more than I ever have, which left precious little time for me to do anything but catch the game every week. Last year was easily the least football I’ve watched since I was deployed. Not much has changed in that regard, but most of the real heavy lifting is done so I do have more time, which means I’ll actually post to this thread this year. And maybe the SDMB in general, I’ve been absent for a long time but it’s still home. But I digress.

Anyway, I’ll keep this simple. Of course I hope the Steelers make the Super Bowl, but I’m not even going to pretend to be super optimistic. They just announced Justin Fields as the starter today, and while he has talent for miles he has failed to impress thus far. Wilson has a calf issue that won’t go away, so he’s out for the time being. The defense is phenomenal as usual, but the QB situation, while better than last year, is still unsettled and the wide receiver room is likely the weakest in the NFL (thanks, Aiyuk, you jackass).

Pittsburgh will have a winning record, it’s Tomlin coaching after all, all they need is respectable, average QB play and they’ll be competitive within the division, and they may even make the playoffs, but getting past the Chiefs? Even the most ardent homer has to have watched the opening game of the season and realized that they played a lousy game and still beat the Ratbirds.

So I’m predicting a fairly middling season. 10-7, 2nd in the division, and the playoffs. Being an obnoxiously optimistic homer hasn’t gotten me anywhere, so let’s see what honest supplication gets me this year. The only bold prediction I’m making is T.J. Watt will win DPOY, he got straight jobbed out of it last year and will be every bit as good this season (barring injury, he is a Watt).

Enjoy the season. Here we go!

2

Um, about that…

3

Fields played pretty well today. After the first snap fumble jitters he settled down. He got the ball away pretty quickly with only a few exceptions and connected well with Pickens and Friermuth.

The points will come. They looked like a pro team today, not a bunch of high schoolers running a juvenile offense.

And the defense… I mean, wow. Watt is still the best (no matter what bullshit they came up with to give Garrett DPOY) and the secondary is, for the first time in ages, really solid across the board.

I’m happy with how today went.

4

Fields looked alright. He still holds the ball way too long but he minimized negative plays. I don’t see any upside to starting Wilson over him. Where’s the restaurant?

5

But they’ll be playing in Denver next week and if Wilson took the field there it would be interesting…

6

The restaurant is in downtown Harrisburg, PA, right by the Capitol building. In fact, if you are outside the Capitol looms large across the street.

7

I hope the restaurant is a big success for you. I lived in Harrisburg briefly, across from the Forum.

8

I’ve actually never been to PA, but a bunch of my colleagues are going to Harrisburg for a conference in November so…

9

I don’t see a way that Wilson gets us to being a title contender, so I’m happy that we get to see Fields’ potential. At least he’s got escapability and speed. That said, Steelers seem to be in “no man’s land” of not being that good, but hovering around playoff contention year after year, and not being that bad, greatly reducing the possibility of getting a good, young, cheap QB. I feel like we’re wasting Watts’ best years.

10

So, did any of you know that crossing the goal line with the football results in 6 points and something called a touchdown? It’s been such a long time since I’ve seen Pittsburgh score one that I forgot.

Alas, they only got one, but a win is a win. The defense was beast once again, Fields is as adequate as I had hoped with occasional bursts of inspiration that result in great plays, but more important is that he’s not turning the ball over.

And hey, look who’s in first place. Even better, look who’s in last place. The Browns won today, and so they are in second place by default. Not bad for the team almost universally predicted to finish last in the division. I know it’s too early to really break out the shit talking, but I am savoring the moment.

Also, teams that start 0-2 historically make the playoffs only around 10% of the time, and particularly in the Bengals’ case their all-world quarterback and Eminem wannabe Joe Burrow is playing like his wrist is still screwed up so they could be in deep trouble. One could only hope he’s OK and also that his team never recovers.

11

The chances of the Steelers going to the Superbowl are a lot higher than my Giants going.

12

I’m all about being a homer. I mean, that’s obviously my thing, I do this every year no matter what.

But let’s be real, there was never any chance the Giants would be good this year. Even if Daniel Jones became the best QB in the league, and there was no evidence that he would or that it was even possible, the Giants have no weapons. They’re not Panthers bad, but this season was always going to be about the draft pick, maybe an upset or two. The playoffs were never a reasonable possibility.

13

They have Nabors and he looks like the real deal. Singletary looks good. Jones threw for 2 touchdowns and Singletary ran for 1. This week was 100% lost by the coach. How do you not carry two kickers when your only kicker goes into the game injured? Maybe if your punter is at least ok placekicking. Not if your punter is incapable of hitting an extra point.

14

I am a Steeler fan but a combination of chord cutting (which makes live sports harder to watch) and my disillusionment with the NFL as an organization these last several years have made it so that I’ve watched much less Football than I used to but I do appreciate that you start this thread every year because I have a soft spot for tradition so thanks. And GO STEELERS!!!

15

I’m actually surprised that the punter couldn’t make an extra point. I know it’s not his job, but the kickers typically devote at least a little time to each other’s specialties for situations just like that. How many times have you seen the punter do kickoffs because he had the bigger leg even though the placekicker is far more accurate? And what’s 25 yards to a professional kicker? Doug Flutie hit a drop kick from 25 and he wasn’t even a kicker.

When Pittsburgh lost their punter at the end of the week 1 game Chris Boswell came in and kicked a perfectly serviceable punt, not much hang time and more of a line drive, but he had obviously put in some work to make sure he could do it if necessary.

Then again, one year against the Giants Pittsburgh lost their long snapper and James Harrison came in to do it and promptly snapped it out of the end zone for a safety. So yeah, the specialty players matter. But he still should have been able to handle an extra point.

16

Extra points in the NFL are now 33 yards, but I hear you.

As for our Steelers, I’m now hoping that this defense is extra special, and even some progress by Fields and this start-up offense leads us to a deep playoff run. I also fully expect to be dispelled of this notion by around 4pm on Sunday. Hope and hopelessness at the same time.

17

I don’t know, Herbert is injured. Can he beat that defense while hobbled? If he can’t go it’s up to Easton Stick, a hell of a name for a baseball player if I’ve ever heard one but not a particularly good QB in the NFL.

I’m I see they’re playing really well on both sides of the ball, so the offense has its hands full. But as long as Fields takes care of the ball they have a chance.

18

I am a pessimistic fan. I guess the hopelessness part is more long-term, as I just can’t see Fields leading a team to a Super Bowl. Unless, of course, this is like one of those Ravens or Bucs type defenses that can carry a team all the way, with a below-average QB. Good thing is that Fields at least has the skills, and could still develop. As for Sunday, I am relatively optimistic. Let’s go!!!

19

Whatever the Steelers’ coaching staff is doing with Fields, they deserve a huge pat on the back. Every week he looks better. This week he looked like a real QB with a bright future instead of a reclamation project.

But the defense, wow. Pittsburgh will live and die with their defense, and right now they’re looking absolutely stellar. They made some adjustments and simply shut the Bolts down after the first quarter. Watt remains unstoppable, and everyone is contributing.

So the team that most of the pundits were calling the odd team out in the AFC North is undefeated with a 2-game lead no matter what happens late. If Dallas wins (yuck, but I hope they do) the vaunted Ratbirds will be 0-3, and maybe the Commies can pull one out against the anointed ones in Cincinnati. That would really make my weekend.

20

Yeah, Fields looked so much more poised than I’ve ever seen him. Hoping the Highsmith injury isn’t major, as that was the one negative in the game. They haven’t played a top QB in his prime yet, so those will be tests. And every time look at that schedule, with all the 6 division games bunched at the end (with Philly and KC mixed in), these early wins are even bigger.